Crutch



FQ KLAusNlTzER r- TL d 2,398,534

l GRUTCH Aprila, 1946.

l Filed June 8, 1945 INVENTORS PAM/vk KLm/slwrzsn GUY w- :A1-ras.;-

% 1 f .ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 16, 1946 CRUTCH Frank vKlausnitzer and GuyBattles, Pittsburgh, Pa.

Applicationuune s, 1945, seriamussazzz (ci. ,rss- 50.)

rClaim's.

This invention relates broadly to crutches, but more particularly toshock absorbers for crutches, and important objects and advantages ofthe invention .are to provide a shock absorber of the characterdescribed, which embodies resilient means for reducing to a minimum allshocks and jars inevitably concomitant with the use of crutches onconcrete pavements, floors, and analogous unyielding surfaces, and inconsequence providing ease and comfort to the user; which may be readilyinstalled to crutches of any type already constructed as well as form a`component part oi new crutch structures, which is simple in itsconstruction and arrangement, durable and eicient in its use, compact,attractive in appearance, positive ,in its action, and comparativelyeconomical in its manufacture, installation, and maintenance. i

With the foregoing and .other objects in View which will appear `as thedescription proceeds, the invention resides in the novel construction,ycombination, and arrangement of parts herein specifically described andillustrated in the accompanying drawing, but it is .to be understoodthat changes in the form, proportions and details of construction may beresorted to that come within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

in the drawing wherein like numerals of reference designatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is an elevational View of a crutch with a shock absorberconstructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a full-size elevational view, partly in cross section, ofthe shook absorber, and illustrating the connection of the latter withthe crutch structure.

Referring in detail to the drawing I and 2 denote the side arms of thecrutch, to the upper ends oi which side arms the shoulder bar 3 issecured. The side arms, intermediate their ends, have securedtherebetween a handle grip 4. The construction and assembly of the sidearms, shoulder bar, and handle grip conform to the conventionaltype ofcrutch well known in the art to which the invention appertains.

The lower ends of the side arms I and 2 converge and combinedly merge toform a cylindrical .shank 5. The lower end portion of the shank is ofless diameter than its upper portion and thereby provides a reduced endportion 6 and a peripheral shoulder 'I.

An aperture 8, open at the free end of the reduced end portion 6,extends longitudinally through the axial center of the latter, and con--tinu'es `a considerable distance into the shank 5 above the shoulder.'I.

The improved shock absorber includes a bottom stem 9, whichhas a reducedend portion I0 at the `upper end 'thereof providing a peripheralshoulder II. A suitable cushioning member vin the form of a conventionaltype of rubber cap ferrule I2 is secured to 4the lower end portion ofthe bottom stem 9 for the obvious purpose of mitigating shock and forpreventing wear at the lower end of 'the Abottom stem.

Mounted on andextending Lfrom the reduced end portion B of the shank 5is an upper sleeve I3, which abuts against 'the peripheral shoulder 1.The upper sleeve 'I3 is rigidly secured to the shank (5 by atransversely extending rivet I4.

A lower sleeve I5 is Yiixedly secured to the reduced end portion le vofthe bottom stem 9 by means of a transversely extending rivet I6, andabuts against the peripheral shoulder II of said bottom stern. The lowersleeve I5 is inserted in the upper sleeve I3 and is telescopicallyshiitable in the latter.

. An apertured holding disk Il is ixedly secured, in any suitablemanner, in the upper end of the lower sleeve I5. A screw bolt I8,extending through and being shiftable in the holding disk l?, is iixedlyscrewed into the aperture 8 in the shank 5. The head I9, of the screwbolt I8, is vdisposed in the lower sleeve I5 below the holding disk I'I.Ample clearance 2E! is provided between the holding disk I1 and the topof the bottom stem 9 to allow the necessary operating movements of thehead I9 in said clearance, as shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 2.

It will be noted that the sleeves I3 and I5 are inseparately joinedtogether in their telescopic inter-engagement by the extension of thescrew bolt I8 through the holding disk I1, and by the engagement of thescrew bolt in the shank 5, in the manner set forth. The extension of thescrew bolt through the reduced end portion 6 of the shank and Well intothe latter, servesn to reenforce said reduced end portion 6. The screwbolt is further secured in position in the shank 5 by means of the rivetI4, which latter extends transversely through the upper sleeve I3,through the reduced end portion 6, and through the screw boltl I8,whereby all of these elements are simultaneously secured in theirassembled positions when the rivet I4 is secured in position.

A spiral spring 2| is mounted on the screw bolt I8 within the uppersleeve I3. The lower end of the spring seats upon the holding disk I'I,and the upper end thereof abuts against a `Washer 22,

which is positioned against the lower end of the reducedend portion 6 ofthe shank 5. The normal action of the spring tends to forcibly projectthe lower sleeve I from the upper sleeve I3, and to tensionally holdsaid lower sleeve at its maximum extended position.

It will be apparent that when weight is imposed upon the improved crutchby the user, the lower sleeve I5 will be partially forced into the uppersleeve I3 against the resilient action of the spring 2|, whereby shocksand jars are reduced to a minimum.

The present invention provides a most eilicient device of its kind,which may be economically constructed, and successfully employed for thepurposes and in the manner herein set forth.

What we claim is:

l. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with saidshank, a bottom stem, a lower sleeve connected with said stem and beingtelescopically engaged in said upper sleeve, a screw bolt xedly securedin said shank and depending into said sleeves, means for shiftablyjoining said bolt with said lower sleeve, and resilient means mounted onsaid bolt and being normally o-perable to forcibly project said lowersleeve from said upper sleeve. Y

2. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with saidshank, a bottom stem, a lower sleeve connected with said stem and beingtelescopically engaged and shiftable in said upper sleeve, a screw boltxedly secured in said shank and depending into said sleeves, means forshiftably joining said bolt with said lower sleeve and for limiting themovement of the latter in ing disk secured in said lower sleeve andengaging said bolt for shiftably joining said lower sleeve in said uppersleeve, and resilient means mounted on said bolt and being normallyoperable for holding said lower sleeve in the extended position in saidupper sleeve.

4. A crutch comprising a shank having a handle forming elementlprojecting thereabove and further having a longitudinally disposedaperture in its lower portion, an upper sleeve secured to and dependingfrom said shank, a bottom stem carrying a cushioning member at the lowerend thereof, a lower sleeve secured to the upper end of said stem andbeing telescopically engaged and in said aperture and depending intosaid sleeves and including a head, a holding disk Xed in the upper endof said lower sleeve, said bolt being shiftably extended through saiddisk with the head thereof being disposed below said disk to connectsaid lower sleeve in said upper sleeve and to limit the longitudinalmovement of said lower sleeve in said upper sleeve, meansextendingtransversely through said upper sleeve and through said shank andthrough said bolt for securing said blank in V,said upper sleeve and forxedly securing said bolt in said shank, and a spiral spring mounted onsaid bolt and being disposed between said disk and the lower end of saidshank, the normal action of said spring tending to force said lowersleeve from said upper sleeve and to hold said lower sleeve in theextended position in said upper sleeve.

5. In a crutch structure, a shank, an upper sleeve connected with saidshank, a lower sleeve telescopically engaged in said upper sleeve, ascrew bolt lixedly secured in said shank and depending into saidsleeves, means for shiftably joining said bolt with said lower sleeve,and resilient means mounted on said bolt and being normally operable toforcibly project said lower sleeve from said upper sleeve.

FRANK KLAUSNITZER. GUY W. BATTLES.

